Read Online All In by Aleah Barley - Free Book Online

play real poker without beer.”
    “Pretty sure that’s not true.”
    “Am I the expert?” He grabbed a couple of beers, then went back for the tiny bottles of scotch. “Let me know the charge for the mini-bar and I’ll cover it. I’ve got a per-diem.”
    “And I’ve got Bullet comping my room.”
    “Right.” Ryan turned to face Daisy.
    She’d found the cards.
    She’d also moved to the bed. It made sense. They could sit across from each other and have a mile-long playing space on the king-size mattress.
    It didn’t mean anything. Sure, they’d kissed—three times—but Daisy had made it clear she wasn’t interested.
    But now she was staring up at him with those deep blue eyes. Her legs were crossed. Her cheeks were flushed. She licked her lips and… damn .
    Ryan took a deep breath, fighting back his half-formed erection, and dumped the booze on the bed. “I feel like I’m contributing to the delinquency of a minor.”
    Full lips pushed out into a pout. “I’m twenty-four.”
    “You’re—” Perfect. He swallowed back the thought and tried to drag his gaze away from her lips. Today’s shirt was blue. It said “Fiat Lux.” Where the hell was she getting these things? He shook his head. “Fine. You’re fine.”
    He sat down across from her and popped the cap open on a bottle of beer. “Deal.”
    “Hold ’em?”
    “Five-card draw.” It was the simplest form of poker he could think of, the way the game was played in dorm rooms and around kitchen tables. “You’re not going to learn advanced strategy tonight.”
    “Then what are we doing?”
    “I’m going to teach you how to bluff, because, honestly, sweetheart, you’re one of the worst liars I’ve ever seen.”
    Daisy’s expression curled. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes were wide. She looked hurt.
    Too damn bad. Ryan wasn’t about to pussy foot around her feelings. “You sigh. You shake. You lick your damn lips. It’s enough to drive a man to distraction, sure, but it’s also a tell. You might as well take out a billboard on the strip.”
    Daisy’s tongue darted out to moisten her lips and Ryan’s erection went from half formed to persistent. Pure temptation. “I. Do. Not. Lick. My. Lips.”
    “You just did.”
    She snorted angrily, but at least she didn’t try to contradict him. He didn’t know if his jeans would hold.
    “Five-card draw.” She opened the box of cards and slid the deck out. Her fingers shuffled capably if not elegantly and she dealt. “Pick ’em up.”
    “Nope.” Ryan took a long pull on his beer. “First we need to ante up.”
    “There are chips in the side table.”
    “Not chips.” He really was going to hell, but by God, he’d have a fun time going there. “I watched you today. You play a nice, calm, tight game of poker—maybe the tightest game I’ve ever seen. You never give anyone an inch. You always play the odds. You never flinch. It’s so damn logical…but that’s not what poker’s about.”
    “Fifty-two cards is a closed system.” Daisy snorted. “Sounds pretty logical to me.”
    “Nope. Poker is all about your opponent. It’s about knowing what the other guy’s thinking and being able to use it against him.” Ryan chuckled. “It’s a lot like police work that way. It’s about being excited. It’s about being invested. Now…” His grip tightened on the long neck bottle of beer. “Take off your shirt.”
    Her head jerked upright. Blood stained her cheeks a nice merlot. “Excuse me?”
    “I told you, poker’s about being invested. It’s about knowing exactly what you have to lose.” He nodded toward the bed. “Ante up.”
    Part of him wanted Daisy to say no.
    To tell him to go to hell.
    He’d go get the chips. They’d play a few regular hands of poker. It would be over soon and they’d call it a night.
    But then Little Miss I’m-Not-Interested took off her T-shirt and let the warm cotton drift down onto the bed.
    Her bra was purple and pink striped with a little